Stinging insects

The most commonly encountered stinging pests, excluding scorpions, fall under the insect order Hymenoptera, encompassing ants, bees, and wasps. In natural settings like forests and fields, these insects play crucial roles, with bees contributing to flower pollination and wasps acting as predators of troublesome insects.

However, when these pests establish nests near or inside homes, they threaten people and pets, typically requiring professional stinging insect control.

Professional pest control services can assist in managing and removing nests in and around homes to reduce the likelihood of encountering stinging insects.

Types of stinging pests

Stinging insects are characterized by their ability to defend themselves or colonies through venomous stings. The stinger is typically a modified ovipositor or egg-laying structure in females that has evolved for defense.

Stinging insects have venom glands connected to their stingers, allowing them to inject venom into potential threats or predators. Some common stinging insects include wasps, hornets, and bees.

When these insects encounter humans, they may sting if they feel threatened. Once stung, some individuals may have a mild to severe allergic reaction. It's crucial to be aware of the behavior and habitats of these insects to minimize the risk of stings, especially in areas where nests are present.

Wasps

Wasps are known for their slender bodies and distinctive colors, often featuring black and yellow stripes. They are social insects that form colonies with a queen, workers, and drones. Common wasp species include paper wasps and yellowjackets. Paper wasps build umbrella-shaped nests that are made of paper-like material, whereas yellowjackets typically build nests in the ground or other concealed locations.

Wasps and hornets are both known for their slender bodies, with hornets being larger than many other wasp species. While wasps can have various colors like black, yellow, and brown, hornets have distinctive black and white or brown and yellow markings. Wasps have diverse nesting habits, ranging from paper nests in trees to mud nests or underground burrows. Hornets typically build large paper-like aerial nests high in trees or on buildings. Both can be aggressive, especially when their nests are threatened. A trained professional should perform any wasp control attempts. Terminix technicians are your local experts in safe treatment and removal of wasps.

Hornets

Hornets are a subset of wasps belonging to the Vespa genus and are characterized by their larger size and distinct colorations. They are social insects that typically construct large aerial nests. Hornets are known for their robust bodies and potent stingers. They can be aggressive when they perceive a threat to their nest or colony.

Common hornet species include the bald-faced hornet and the European hornet. The bald-faced hornet has distinctive black and white colors and is known to defend its paper-like nests aggressively. The European hornet is known for its brown and yellow coloration with reddish-brown markings. European hornets are less aggressive than other hornet species but can deliver painful stings when provoked.

Terminix technicians are experts in hornet control and have the correct equipment and tools to safely eliminate these pests. Contact your local Terminix branch for hornet control on your property.

Bees

Bees are flying insects that belong to the order Hymenoptera, which includes thousands of species. They are known for their crucial role in pollination and producing honey. Bees are vital to ecosystems and agriculture due to their pollination efforts.

Common bee types include honey bees, bumble bees, and carpenter bees.

• Honey bees are social insects that live in colonies with a queen, workers, and drones. They have a strong and hairy body, typically with black and yellow or brown stripes.
• Bumble bees are larger and hairier than honeybees and are known for their excellent pollinating technique. Their colonies are smaller than honey bees and have a more flexible social structure.
• Carpenter bees are solitary bees that burrow into wood to build nests. They are typically larger than honey and bumble bees. Their abdomens are shiny and may be black, green, or metallic.